JAM/NCC/Vittoria is in Asheville, North Carolina this week for the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships. Ellen Noble returns to defend her U23 national title after spending several weeks in Belgium racing in the World Cup.

“I’m excited to be here in Asheville. It’s always cool to see different parts of the country and world and race,” Noble said. “After walking the course today, I’m really excited to see how it changes during the week and look forward to racing the U23 race on Sunday, especially since the U23 are given our own event for the first time.”

Scott Smith will be racing on Sunday with the U23 men. He comes to nationals with one U23 title win this cross season, crowned the U23 Verge Series Champion. He has consistently finished in the top ten in the elite men’s fields and landed in third at the Supercross Cup in Stony Point, New York in November. Smith was out surveying the nation's race course today with Noble.

“Looks like a well-balanced course,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of hard pedaling, technical stuff, good elevation a good amount of running.”

Coach Al Donahue likes the course design.

“The course is skewed slightly more to the fitness rider but you still need to be good at the technical stuff,” Donahue said. “It’s challenging but fair. There’s plenty of room for passing. There aren’t any bottlenecks, so you can have a mediocre start and do well. The person most prepared physically and technically is going to win. And that’s always what you’re hoping for.”

JAM/NCC/Vittoria’s Jack Kisseberth moves up into the elite men’s event at nationals this year. He is coming off a strong cross season, getting top ten in the elite men’s fields in six of his last eight cross races. Kisseberth’s most impressive finish this season was 3rd place at Rhode Island’s NBX Grand Prix in early December.

JAM Fund co-founder Jeremy Powers returns to cross nationals in pursuit of his fourth national championship title in five years.

According to USA Cycling, some 2,000 cyclists will compete at the Cyclocross National Championships this week on the grounds of the historic Biltmore Estate. As many as 35 stars-and-stripes championship jerseys will be awarded from Jan. 5-10. Noble, Smith, Kisseberth and Jena Greaser will be racing on Sunday. Donahue races in the masters 40+ on Wednesday. You can watch the race live online at ultrasport.tv starting at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10.

JAM/NCC/Vittoria team and friends survey the Cyclocross National Championship course while riders practice the drop on Jan. 4.